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Ivan Toney admits to multiple breaches of FA betting rules as he pleads guilty to many of the 262 charges against him… with the Brentford striker set to begin a lengthy suspension BEFORE the end of the season
- Toney pleaded guilty in response to many of the 262 charges issued by the FA
- The striker is disputing others, however, with the FA disciplinary hearing looming
- He is expected to begin serving a lengthy suspension before the end of the season.
Ivan Toney has admitted multiple charges of breaching the FA rules of the game by betting on football and is expected to start a lengthy ban before the end of the season.
sports mail has learned that the Brentford striker has pleaded guilty in response to many of the 262 charges issued by the FA last December, but is contesting others, and an FA disciplinary hearing is understood to be imminent.
Toney’s impending ban is likely to rule him out of contention for England’s European Championship qualifiers against Italy and Ukraine next month, which would be a blow to Gareth Southgate, who is lacking attacking options with Callum Wilson. and Raheem Sterling, both battling nagging injuries.
Although Toney was left out of Southgate’s World Cup squad after training poorly when called up for England’s UEFA Nations League matches against Germany and Italy last September, his continued outstanding form for Brentford has ensured he remains in the coach’s thoughts.
Toney was charged with 232 FA gambling offenses between 2017 and 2021 last November, with the FA adding a further 30 charges that took place between 2017 and 2019 the following month.
Ivan Toney is expected to start a lengthy suspension before the end of the season after the Brentford striker admitted to multiple breaches of the Football Association’s Laws of the Game.
Toney has scored 15 times for Brentford this season, including at Arsenal earlier this month.
His ban will be a huge blow to Brentford and his manager Thomas Frank.
The 26-year-old played for numerous clubs including Scunthorpe, Wigan, Peterborough and Brentford during that period, but has not been accused of betting against any of his own teams.
Toney is understood to have admitted to many of the charges in his response to the FA, but is contesting others. A multi-month suspension is the most likely outcome given the number of alleged violations based on historical precedent.
In 2017, Burnley midfielder Joey Barton was banned for 18 months after admitting he placed 1,260 bets between 2006 and 2013, though the ban was reduced to 13 months on appeal.
In 2021, two Boston United players, Andi Thanoj and Jay Rollins, were fined for placing 757 bets on each other and banned for five months.
Toney is resigned to being banned and an early ban may be right for him and Brentford, as if it starts before the end of the season much of it could be fulfilled over the summer.
It looks like Brentford will stay in the Premier League, even if Toney serves his suspension now
Toney’s impending ban will rule him out of England’s contention for Euro qualifiers in March.
With 35 points on the board, Thomas Frank’s side are all but guaranteed to stay in the Premier League even without Toney, who has scored 14 goals in 22 games so far this season.
A summer ban would also help protect Toney’s transfer value with a view to being sold by Brentford next January or the following summer.
The former Newcastle striker has a contract until 2025 and is expected to attract offers from bigger clubs once the uncertainty surrounding the possible ban is clarified.